Pump construction



' Sept. 29, 1925;

D. J. CONANT PUMP CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 1, 1921 n u 3 B 2 3 m w n l hI .15.: i m 6 I Z I I INVENTOR ATTORNEY FIGURE 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept.29, 1925.

D. J. CONANT PUMP CONSTRUCTION Fil ed Nov. 1, 192 1 FIGURE 2 v INVENTOR%4 BY ATTORNEY FIGURE .3

Patented Sept. 29,1925.

UNITED STATES .DAVID J. OONANT, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

PUMP CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed November 1, 1921. Serial No. 512,151.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known, that I, DAVID J. CoNAN'r, a citizen of the United States,and resident of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PumpConstruction, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to provide a form of pump constructionwherein the shaft may be supported by a minimum n1 unber of bearings ina stack of pump bowls; wherein an arrangement of bowls and bearing isprovided whereby the water pressure is so distributed and controlled asto prevent the forcing of sand into the bearing, and to permit properlubrication of the hearing without wastage, whereby to provide aserviceably lubricated bearing or bearings which will continuallysupport the runner shaft and prevent wear of the runner against thebowl; wherein substantial economy is effected in the size and weight ofthe pump bowls and the cost of their manufacture and assembly; wherein ameans is provided for inserting a section in the shaft at the point ofits engagement with the bearing thereby effecting certain economies ashereinafter set forth, and wherein water trapped within a pump bowl isutilized to effect proper lubrication of a pump bearing.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a pumpembodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view thru another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view thru still another embodiment of myinvention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates a bearing forshaft 2 supported by webs 3 and bearing bowl 4. An annular recess 5 isshown in bearing 1 connected to a suitable lubricant supply not shown byconduit 6 in one web 3, and pipe 7, butv lubricating means may or maynot be provided as desired.

Bearing bowl 4 is provided with an internally threaded flange 8 at oneend and an externally threaded flange 9 at the other end whereby theseveral bowls may be secured together in alignment as shown, theimpeller bowls 10 being threaded in a like manner.

Each impeller bowl is provided with diffusion vanes as 11 therebyforming an impeller chamber 13 in which is arranged an impeller 14provided with a neck l5 and mounted on shaft 2, and operating in recess15 in neck 12.

The neck portion 12 of each bowl is short and the passage 16 thereinthrough which shaft 2 the circulation of water therethrough around shaft2, this circulation taking place in the direction indicated by the smallarrows. In other words, the neck portions 12 of the several bowls arenot bearings but simply form the inner walls of passages 17 throughwhich the water passes from one impeller to the next. The neck portions15 of the impellers provide no bearing surfaces but are metallicpackings or free running sleeves which are so arranged with relation tonecks 12 as to hinder the passage of water around neck portions 12,.butnot entirely prevent its flow.

Considering the pump to be in full operation, the main body of waterflows through the several bowls as indicated by the large arrows. Thecentrifugal force generated by the revolving impeller 14 throws wateroutwardly into passage 17, this centrifugal force together with thewater pressure at 18 causing a circulation of water around each neckportion 12 as indicated by the small arrows. A similar circulation ofwater takes place through the passage 19 between the lower surface ofeach impeller and the adjacent surface of the next lower bowl. Thesesomewhat free minor circulations around each impeller forms a waterleakage between each impeller and adjacent surfaces which is necessaryto a free turning impeller. This circulation is reduced ,withinpractical limits by the construction described.

Since no bearings are provided for shaft 2 in these several bowls theymay be made shorter than would otherwise be possible and consequently astack of a given number of bowls materially shortened. Reducing thelength of this stack, of course, reduces its weight as a whole and theweight of individual parts, efi'ects decided economy in manufacture, andincreases the efficiency and materiallylengthens the life of thefinished product.

The single bearing 1 in a construction of supporting a neck 12 1':

passes is sufliciently large to permit a threaded this type willsatisfactorily support a shaft carrying a number of impellers as it isperfectl lubricated at all times and erosive materia suchas sand iseffectually prevented from entering the same.

This perfect lubrication is secured by the following means. The impelleroperating immediately above the bearing 1 receives the water from thebearing bowl and throws it out into passage 17 thereby reducing the headof water at point 20 to a uniform pressure with that surrounding thebearing so that oil supplied to the inside of the hearing will traversethe entire length bearing without being afifected by water circulation,and sand carried by the water would not be carried to the bearing.

The impeller operating immediately below the lower end of bearing 1creates a circulation of water around neck portion 12 as describedthereby relieving the ressure at point 21 of the bearing-so that t ebearing is lubricated clear to its lower end.

As a still further improvement I have provided a shaft section as 22provided with v pin at each end as 23-24 to engage threaded sockets25-26 in the ends of the adjoining shaft sections. This construc tionpermits the easy replacing of a worn bearing, and permits the use ofsuch material as may be most permanent for the bearing ortion of a shaftbut too expensive to use" or the whole shaft.

It is clear from the above description that I have provided aconstruction by means of which the desired objects and advan ages areobtained. By meansof the construction described-the impellers aremaintained in perfect axial alignment with their respective bowls andconsequently wearagainst the bowls is practically eliminated and thelife of the pump materially prolonged.

In Figure 2 I show an embodiment of my invention in which a conduit 27extends from chamber 28' in impeller bowl 10 down to conduit 6-andbearing 1. In this type of im ller bowl a long neck 12 is provided and te settlin ch'am er- 28 formed in the casting of the owl by means of acore. the support for which form holes as 29-29 in the bottom wall ofthe chamber. The water flowin between neck 12 and impeller 14 fills chamor 28 and maintains a pressure therein greater than that at points 20and 21 on the bearin connecting cham er 28 and bearing 1 a leakage 0water is provided into bearing 1 at its central point, this waterleakage pass ing both ways through bearing 1 and discharging therefromat points 20 and 21. This water leakage is constant since the pressurein chamber 28 is always greater than the pressure on bearin ,1, thelatter being placed below said cham r, and the lubrlcation is efficientbecause'the outward moveof the of o eration may below. Consequently byment of the water through bearindg tually revents the entrance of sanand other erosive materials thereto. Since the movement of water throughconduit 27 is but slight, the water in chamber 28 remains almoststationary; therefore any sand or other foreign material carried intothe chamber will settle on the bottom thereof. This being the case thewater drawn off for lubricatin purposes is clear and entirely free of asubstances that might score or wear the shaft or bearing. If t oughtdesirable a filter may be inserted in chamber 10 as indicated at 30.

In Figure 3 still another embodiment is shown in which the core holesare at 31 and an openin whereby the pressure in passage 16, chamber 10and bearing 1 are equalized. This equalization of pressures preventscirculation through bearing 1 above holes 31 and consequently preventsthe entrance of sand thereto. There would of course be some littlecirculation below holes 31 but this circulation is reduced b neckportion 15 fitting somewhat snug y in recess 15, any wear occasioned bysaid circulation being of little moment since the shaft and impeller areheld in position by the bearing 1 proper.

It is to be understood of course I'have herein shown and described oneembodiment of my invention, this disclosure is to be considered asillustrative only and changes in form, construction and method be madewithin the scope of t e appended claims.

I claim 1. An impeller bowl havingl an impeller chamber formed thereinand aving a passa e formed therein communicating with said impellerchamber and of greater diam eter than the shaft passing therethrough,

that while i 1 effecis provided at 32 into passage 16 and having anannular recess formed therein between said chamber and passage andconcentric therewith, a shaft and an impeller arranged in said bowl, andmeans carried by said shaft to engage said recess, the space betweensaid bowl and said means being less than the space and shaft.

2. An impeller bowl having an impeller chamber formed therein and avinga passage formed therein communicating with 'sald impeller chamber andof greater diameter than the shaft passing therethrough, and having anannular recess formed therein between said chamber and passage andconcentric therewith, a shaft and an impeller arranged in said bowl, andmeans carried by said shaft to engage said recess, and restrict the flowof water therethrough.

3. A ump structure comprisin ing how, a p

therein,

0 l operatively connected to between said bowl 1 each end thereof andprovided with a part said shaft and bearing bowl intermediate closelyencompassing said shaft but spaced the ends of said bearing bowl, andmeansa distance therefrom and spaced a distance for permitting arestricted circulation of 10 from the adjacent ends of the bearing por-Wa er betwpen stud Impeller bowls and then 5 tion of said bearing bowl,an impeller oppe tlv mpellers.

erativel mounted in each impeller bowl, means or introducing a lubricantbetween DAVID J. CONANT.

